Disclaimer:
This is a Fanfiction based on the hit MMORPG game Final Fantasy XI. This is the second section of the saga. If you haven't read the first 4 chapter I highly suggest you do. I myself do not own any rights to Final Fantasy XI and I don't even play it anymore. I hope you enjoy the continuation of the story.
Chris
Cold Reunions
"Hey! Cmon lets get going Tohma!" Styrth shouted from across the street.
Jeuno was the central city in all of Vanadiel. It was massive, thousands of adventures take up residents here, and thousands more pass through every single day. Its easy to get lost so its best if you stick in a group.
"I know, I know! Where did Alex and Tornex?" Tohma said as she crossed the road to meet with Styrth.
"I dunno, probably to the auction house or something" Styrth answered with a chuckle.
"Well ill meet you back at the mog house, ok Styrth" Tohma said precociously.
Since they were kids Styrth and Tohma had loved one another, and it wasn't until recently that they have begun to show it quite a bit more clearly. You might say they are in a relationship with one another, though neither would agree with such a statement.
"Theres Tornex!" Styrth said as he saw Tornex come walking up with Alex behind him.
"Hi guys" Alex said excitedly.
"Hey Alex, hows the city this time" Tohma giggled.
"I don't know why…but every time we come here I get so fuzzy inside!" Alex said as she jittered.
Alex is a mithra, and a fine mithra at that. Not only is she a great Paladin but she is also very inquisitive. She sees things before others do, however in Jeuno she gets to excited to notice anything.
"We were just headed back to the mog house" Styrth explained.
"Oh you were, were you?" Tornex said inquisitively.
"Tornex you're an ass sometimes you know" Tohma said with a smirk.
"Yeah… but it doesn't matter, he's cool" Alex said as she wondered a few paces to one of the nearer vendors.
"Well lets get going then…" Styrth said, however he seemed hesitant.
As the group walked through the bustling streets there were people of all shapes, races, and sizes. It was a glorious thing. Jeuno had been known to give the poorest adventurers hope, it was the city of dreams. Vendors were along the streets shouting out hoping people would buy their goods.
"Almost there…" Tohma said with relief.
"Yea, this place is too big, and its almost night" Tornex sighed.
As the group passed the statue in front of the mog houses the moon had sunk beneath the hedges and the hills, it was dusk. Mog house 9b, one of the largest, big enough for 7 people to sleep in with easy.
"Its so nice, this fire is so soothing" Styrth said warming his hands near the small fire.
"Kupo, would you like me to arrange your beds for sleepy?" the mog asked.
"Sure, we'll be headed to bed in an hour or two I imagine" Alex said as she looked at a scroll posted on the wall.
"Curiosity killed the cat" Tornex laughed as he watched Alex look at everything in the room.
"Im just going to go out and get some air, ill be back soon" Tohma said as she walked out of the large room.
As the cool air wisped through her hair she began to walk toward the statue when she noticed a person sitting near it. He looked like he was about her age, perhaps a little older, a ninja definitely, he was wearing a complete black ninja gi. The city was quite, it was amazing. During the nights the city literally cleared out, aside from the odd wanderer there wasn't anyone to be seen.
"Hello!" Tohma chirped as she sat next to the ninja carving away.
"Hi there" he responded keeping his head down as he worked.
This ninja was creating a ninja tool, Tohma had heard of such things but never really cared to look into it. He had pale blonde hair and seemed to be quite tall. He looked like he had a build, which wasn't uncommon, a ninja without muscle wouldn't last to long.
"What are those?" Tohma questioned pointing at the small items around his feet.
"Some tools I need to cast Utsusemi" he responded, still remaining to look down at his work.
"Cool, so where are you from" Tohma pleaded, trying to start a conversation.
"I come from Bastok. Though I haven't been back in years."
"You too huh, I was born there!" Tohma exclaimed.
Tohma hadn't been back in quite a while either, she feared memories. She had the fondest memories of most of her childhood, though she had some skeletons, one she never let go of.
"That's interesting, what's your family's name?" he responded.
"Xilef! Both my mother and father live in Bastok still." Tohma answered.
"Really, that's pretty interesting, I used to know a girl with that name" he continued. "Its been a long time since I heard that name." A smile began to emerge on his face.
"Really?" Tohma questioned.
"Yes." He responded.
Raising his head up he looked at her, scanned her face, looked at her eyes, her lips, her nose, her ears. She was quite a beautiful women, he felt as though he had met her before. She looked at him, his face looked tired, as if he hadn't slept for weeks.
"Its been a long time…" he responded.
"What do you mean…" Tohma said awkwardly.
"When I was young, just starting my adventure I was separated…" he sighed.
A silence grew among them as the wind blew.
"From my friends. I haven't seen any of them since that day…"
"What…what is your name…" Tohma asked as a tear flowed from her eye.
Silence.
"My name…is Fayte" he said as he gather his tools and put them into a pouch on his belt.
As the wind stopped and the air became cool he looked up. She was looking at him with her eyes filled with tears. Fayte continued gathering his things up. As he stood Tohma continued to look where he had been standing. The goblin. The fall. It was all coming back to her.
"Fay-" Tohma squeeked as she remembered him falling to his death.
As she began to cry Fayte walked away. He had his katanas at his side and his belt around his waist. The wind blew and his hair with it. She watched as he walked away, slowly, past the auction houses, past the chocobo stables, and out of sight.
After replaying the moments in her mind she decided to follow him. As she arose she looked back at the mog house.
"I wont be long" she said under her breathe, as she headed off behind Fayte.
As she ran after him she saw the city at night. It was scarey, monsters were known to creep in at night and pick off weak adventurers, though she had never had a problem before, she didn't want one now. As she got closer she could see his figure, him and someone else. Karrick maybe? The other boy who fell.
"Fayte!" Tohma shouted out to him.
Fayte swung around to see this girl he was sitting next to minutes ago. As he began to walk towards her shadows moved. He felt something. In a stride he met at her side.
"What are you doing" Fayte asked as his head moved around them. Something was amiss.
"Don't you remember me?" Tohma asked.
"No…whats your name again" Fayte questioned as his eyes fixated on a part of the darkness.
"Tohma…" she sighed.
As he heard the name he spun around to see her face once more. It had been a long time. Too long a time. The memories of his friends were muttled in the memories of the battles he fought and the murders he committed. He didn't recognize her to the extent she must have recognized him. As he lost focus on her face he focused on the movement behind her.
"Get down!" he yelled as he pushed her aside and she gently fell to her knees.
He ran into the darkness and kicked at whatever he was looking at, an orc rolled into the light under the kick of his foot. He drew his katana's and readied himself for battle. His partner was already next to him.
"Get back to the moghouse, don't come out till dawn" Fayte said as he cast an invisibility ninja spell on her.
In the confusion she began to run toward the moghouse, before she ran around the pedistal she looked back, she could see Fayte and his partner fending what seemed like an endless amount of monsters. As she was about to turn she saw the black mage seemingly cast a meteor spell. As the light from the meteors lit up the streets she saw dozens of orcs streaming into the town. As she turned there was her worst fear. A large orc stood in front of her, weapon drew, ready for battle. As she began to backup she tripped and fell backwards.
"grahtsubeh" the orc muttered as it raised its weapon to strike.
"Help!" Tohma yelled, trying to arm herself.
As she grabbed her lance, the blow hit. It struck her chest, hard, and she heard something crack. Everything went black and she passed out.
As Tohma awoke she was moving. Trying to see where she was she scanned her surroundings. It looked like she was in the Plateau. She looked down to see she was being carried over someone shoulder.
"What happened?" Tohma said groggily.
"Your awake!" she heard Fayte say as they came to a stop.
As he let Tohma get down from his shoulder Fayte smiled. Tohma didn't know what happened, and it was only she and Fayte, where did Fayte's companion go.
"Where are we?" Tohma asked.
"We, my dear Tohma, are in the Plateau!" Fayte said as he pointed his finger towards the Crag.
"My chest…" Tohma said with a wheeze.
"Oh yes, you took quite the hit" Fayte said as he looked at her chest.
"What happened"
"Jeuno got raided…" Fayte began, "Karrick and I were only there because we heard the orcs were planning it" Fayte explained.
"So that was Karrick!" Tohma said.
As Fayte explained what happened Tohma layed on the ground looking up into the sky. It was calm, peaceful, though the pain in her chest was getting worse, she needed some sort of attention.
"Let me look at that chest of yours" Fayte said as he began looking through his pack.
"Ok, it really hurts around my right breast and side" Tohma said as the tried to stay to the left of her body.
As Fayte found some bandages and medicine he sat next to her. She didn't look like she had a scratch on her body, not visible at least. As he began to push on her right side she yelped out in pain and rolled back.
"I take it that hurt…" Fayte said.
"Yea…I think its broken" Tohma said, quite clearly she was in a lot of pain.
"I'm gonna need you to take off your armour so I can get this around it" Fayte said as he lifted the bandage and a vial of healing potion.
"Alright…" Tohma sighed as she blushed and began to unclip the back and sides of her armour.
As the armour fell to her knees her face showed she was in both a lot of pain and a lot of embarrassment. Fayte took the potion and opened it. He dripped some on her right side and breast and waited for it to soak into her skin. Recapping his potion he then took the bandage and wound it around her from her right side, along her breast, around her neck and back.
"How is that?" Fayte asked as he packed up his first aid equipment.
"It doesn't hurt anymore!" Tohma said gleefully.
As Fayte gathered his gear Tohma put her armor back on, her face was red. She felt herself blushing.
"Good, cause we have along way to go…" Fayte said as he pulled out his linkpearl.
"Whos in that pearl?" Tohma asked.
"Just me and Karrick, we always keep in touch" Fayte said as he looked into it.
"Hey Fayte!" a voice came from inside the pearl.
"Did you find them Karrick?" Fayte asked as he walked away Tohma.
"Yea, we're on our way, we'll be there tomorrow" Karrick said.
"Think you could patch up Styrth, Im sure he wants to talk to Tohma" Fayte said as he reached out his arm to give the pearl to Tohma.
"Are you ok?" Styrth asked as he looked into the shell to see Tohma.
"Im find, Fayte fixed it up" Tohma said as she pointed at a small bit of bandage showing.
"Alright, well we'll be there soon!" Styrth said as he passed the pearl back to Karrick.
As Tohma passed the pearl to Fayte they said their goodbyes and they began to walk toward a secluded canyon, a great place to camp. It was a difficult trek getting down with Tohma being hurt. But as they reached the bottom Fayte began to set up a campsite, Tohma layed back and watched him. He had always been strong, but back in Jeuno she saw something she had never seen. Two people managed to kill at least a hundred orcs in only a few short minutes.
"Alright, done. Ill go get some firewood, you crawl into the tent, you need your rest. I suggest you take off your breastplate and let it get some air. Ill be back in an hour with firewood and food." Fayte said as he slide his Katana's into his belt and headed back up.
"Alright, good luck" Tohma sighed as she crawled into the tent.
She removed her breastplate and looked down at her chest. Her right breast was covered in the bandage but her left breast and some of her abdomen was clearly quite bruised. "Styrth is gonna have to wait a while" Tohma thought as she laughed out loud. As she crawled under the covers she remembered that she just met up with her long lost friends. She had totally forgotten. As she remembered the childhood memories she began to doze off.
The warm wind was flowing over the Plateau as Fayte began to gather wood, and rarabs. He enjoyed being out here, it was far better than being at war or at battle like he usually was. Fayte had, since his childhood become a feared ninja by the beastmen, one of the better known, though his fame was just beginning to find its place. Him and Karrick had endured much together, the fall, everything. Everything they did they did together, they didn't have a choice really.
As Tohma awoke she heard the cracking of a fire, the sky was darker now, so it must be night she thought. She dressed herself and crawled out of the tent to warm herself next to the fire.
"Whats for dinner!" Tohma shouted across to Fayte.
"Cooked Rarab, one of my best!" Fayte said as he turned around with a handful of them ready to be cooked.
"That sounds good." Tohma said with a smile.
Fayte looked down at her and smiled. As he laid the Rarabs out on the ground he looked up at her. She had changed so much. She had grown taller than before. He breasts hadn't changed. But her eyes. They felt so strange, as if he had never seen them. Her hair was longer too, it was a nice look.
"So where is your wyvern?" Fayte asked as he seasoned the cooking rarabs.
"Felix, oh I don't have him summoned right now" Tohma said.
"Felix huh? That's a nice name…"
"How long till these things are finished?" Tohma asked.
"Their done actually!" Fayte responded
As they began to eat their spiced rarabs the wind blew softly. The sky was red from the moon. Firesday was the hottest day of every cycle. Silence was nice, but it sent chills of Tohmas spine. As they ate Tohma began to ask some questions.
"What happened after the fall?" Tohma asked as she put a rarab tail in her mouth.
"We both survived it, but the goblin, he didn't" Fayte laughed.
"Where did you go from down there?" Tohma mumbled.
"We found a cave that led to Sand'oria, pretty lucky for us I would say" Fayte said "Ill tell you everything another time."
The wind died down and Plateau became silent. It was a strange feeling, being alone down here. As the fire finally died Fayte began to remove his gi. Tohma saw some scars she never remembered him having when he was little. Some pretty bad ones too. She imagined if Fayte had them from battles Karrick probably had scars similar to them from the same battles. Fayte gathered his gear aside from his layer under his armor and set it next to the tent with everything else. He then climbed into the tent. Tohma followed, it was dark and hard to see.
"We better put some more healing potion on that Tohma" Fayte said as he light his lamp and passed her the potion.
As she unwound the bandage it fell off and she dripped some more onto her wound. Fayte passed her the bandaged and she bandaged herself this time. As he put potion and bandage away again he pulled of his linen shirt, Tohma watched him as he crawled into his sleeping bag. Tohma pulled of her boots and set them to the corner, she then crawled into the other bag. She began to get sleepy.
"Fayte?" Tohma asked.
"Yea…" Fayte answered.
"Did you ever mi-" Tohma began.
"Everyday" he answered.
As Tohma awoke she found herself next to Fayte. Or where Fayte was sleeping. Ever since she was young she always slept beside someone, that never changed. Fayte however was gone. Tohma yawned and brushed the sleep from her eyes, she found a note Fayte must have left, on the inside of the tent;
"Re bandage yourself before you go"
After re-applying the potion and a new bandage Tohma got her breastplate and pants on, tied up her boots and began to stretch out in the camp site. It was a nice day, not as warm as the day before but nothing to complain about.
"I guess its time to get Felix" Tohma said as she pulled out the small orb from her pocket.
As she threw it into the air a small wyvern appeared and gave a yelp as it perched on the ground. It was blue, and quite well trained. Clean scales, sharpened claws, the works. She looked to check around the site, Fayte gear was packed up, his sleeping bag was too, he had clearly gotten up quite a while ago. The site was ready to be taken down, as soon as Tohma got the sleeping bag she slept in packed.
"Anyone there?" a familiar voice echoed from a small pile of Fayte's equipment.
It was the linkpearl, and in it was Alex. It was only a matter of time before she found out how to use it.
"Hey Alex! Where are you guys?" Tohma said as she picked it up and peered into it.
"We're near the Crag of Holla" Alex responded lifting the pearl up so Tohma could see.
"That's cool, your close then!" Tohma responded.
"Wheres Fayte! I want to see him, has he changed? Is he taller? Is he cute?" Alex began to bombard Tohma with questions.
"He isn't here right now" Tohma responded dismissing the other questions.
"Oh well, I'll see him today." Alex responded cheerfully.
As Tohma placed the pearl back in the pack she began to get her sleeping bag packed up. It was a pretty nice sleeping bag, probably from Windurst, the Mithra are supposed to be good at making them, along with cloths. As Tohma finished packing up the inside of the tent she sat next to the dead fire with her wyvern next to her. Fayte would be back soon, all she had to do was wait.
"You excited about seeing Fayte?" Karrick looked to Alex.
"Yes! I had such a huge crush on him when we all were growing up." Alex responded.
"Yea. Ive got a girl back hom-" Karrick began, "well not home, but where I consider home" Karrick continued.
"Where is that?" Alex looked at him curiously.
"Windurst. Soul, my girlfriend is there now." Karrick explained.
As they continued walking they saw Fayte, he was walking toward them. He didn't have any of his heavy gear on, so everyone assumed Tohma and the gear must be at their camp. As Alex saw Fayte she began to stride toward him, she wanted to see what he was like!
"Fayte?" Alex said as she reached him and began examining him.
"Hey, you must be Alex, its nice to meet you" Fayte said with a smile.
Alex just continued moving around him looking at him. She touched his hair and his arms. She looked at his weapons and his armor. She even noticed a scar that came out along his arm. His ear was now pierced, she didn't remember him having that when they were little.
"Whats the news Karrick, how did the raid go?" Fayte asked as everyone finally got to Fayte.
"It went well! Shortly after you saved Tohma a few other adventurers showed up. We destroyed em!" Karrick said as he pulled out his staff and fried a nearby rarab.
"Always good to hear" Fayte replied as Alex climbed up onto his back.
"Whoa! Your pretty tall." Alex said as she was standing on his shoulders looking around the area.
"And your pretty crazy" Fayte replied.
The group laughed as Fayte showed them where the camp was. Alex seemed very distracted by Fayte. Tornex was tinkering with his new staff, and Styrth just walked calmly. Karrick and Fayte were talking about how the Jeuno Raid went, everyone didn't seem to understand them…
"…then we just went to sleep" Fayte replied.
"That's cool, we spent last night trudging through the jungle. My oh my is it a pain to get through there without light" Karrick said.
"Camped at the boarder then?"
"Yea, went well. We made good time"
As they came to the canyon where Fayte and Tohma slept they saw the tent. Fayte led everyone down to the campsite where a very bored Tohma greeted them, it seemed she had waited for quite a while.
"Are you alright!" Styrth said as he ran toward Tohma.
"I'm fine! I just bruised my chest pretty badly" she responded rubbing her left side.
"I was so worried" Styrth said as he gave her a hug.
"Nice spot!" Karrick said as he looked around.
"Yea, remember when we stayed here?" Fayte asked Karrick.
"Ugh, that was cold…" Karrick said as he shivered.
"So this is Felix?" Fayte said as he leaned down to pet the little wyvern.
"He is so cute sometimes" Alex said as he sat next to Fayte and gave it attention too.
"Where are we goin?" Tornex asked.
"After Jeuno I was going to introduce Fayte to Soul" Karrick said.
"Windurst!" Alex said.
As the group planned where to go Fayte packed up the tent and gathered his gear. He had a reasonably large pack on his back and a few bags around his belt. Karrick began to look through one of his bags, he pulled one a green orb, very small.
"Damn…last time you did this we ended up at the wrong one" Fayte said noticing the small green stone.
"Yea, but I think I can handle it now" Karrick said as he pulled his staff from his back.
"Teleport huh?" Tornex asked.
"Yea, we're going to the crag near Windurst, we might be able to make it there today if we make good time" Karrick said.
"Ok then, gather up everyone" Fayte said as he put his arm around Styrth and Tohma.
As everyone gathered around Karrick began to chant the words. Tohma watched as the small green orb floated above them and dropped a curtain of what appeared to be mist around them. As Karrick continued casting it he stopped and slammed his right foot and end of the staff onto the ground. The vale of mist disappeared and before them was the open rocky canyon of Tahrongi.
"Wow…" Alex said as she fumbled and fell backwards.
"Nice work" Fayte said as he looked around.
"Been a while since we've been here" Tornex said as he sat on a nearby rock.
"Heh, we got a good 6 hour walk before we reach the gates of Windurst" Fayte said as he rearranged his gear with a hop.
"That's quit the walk…" Tohma said as she sat down next to Alex who was rubbing her tail.
"We best get going then" Karrick said as he began to walk.
"Cmon guys, I'd like to meet Soul today if we can" Fayte said as he urged everyone to get up.
As everyone slowly made they're way to standing Fayte turned and began to walk in the direction Karrick was walking. Everyone was getting tired, Tohma seemed to be in the best shape, even with her chest. Tornex seemed uneasy, he was restless since they met with Relle, a cute girl he showed interest in. Styrth had an arm around Tohma as they walked, he was tired, leaning to her side very few minutes, and Alex, she was slow, which was kinda strange for her.
"Alright, we can take a break here if you'd like" Karrick said as he turned to look at everyone.
Fayte set his pack down and ran off, "ill get some food".
"Whew…I'm tired" Tornex said as he sat down.
"Im getting tired too" Styrth said as he collapsed on the ground.
"I don't feel to goo-" Alex began as Fayte came up the hill running.
A large Dhamal followed him up. He was smiling as he drew his weapons and slide forward then propelled himself back slicing at its lower neck. Its body collapsed as its head and neck his the ground.
"Anyone hungry?" Fayte said as he put his weapons away.
"Whoa!" Styrth said as he got up and ran to help Fayte get some meat from it.
"Any beastmen out there?" Karrick asked Fayte as he walked up to the group with a couple pieces of skinned dhamal.
"No, nothing I could see, could you get a small fire going?" Fayte said.
As Karrick pulled a pile of nearby sticks towards him and lit them on fire Fayte and Styrth began to cook the meat. It was looking good, but the wind was beginning to blow, and food covered in dirt wasn't good.
"Ok, I figure after we eat we can probably get through this canyon and out onto the plain lands of sarutabaruta in an hour" Karrick said looking at a map.
"Alright then" Styrth said as he pulled the meat out of the fire, cooked to perfection.
As the group ate Fayte noticed Alex was getting really strange. She was swaying back and fourth and side to side, as if she was going to faint. He face was also rather pale.
"Are you alright?" Fayte asked as he got up and sat next to Alex.
"I don't feel so---" Alex tried to say as she collapsed into Fayte.
"Is she alright?" Karrick asked.
"Just very tired, probably hasn't had water all day either, we better pick up the pace" Fayte said as he lifted Alex onto his shoulder.
"Oh no, I hope she is ok" Tohma said.
"Don't worry about it" Tornex said, "She'll be fine".
As the group got up and began to walk into the Canyon Styrth saw Fayte and Karrick talking as they put out the fire, but he didn't know what they were talking about. Alex was laid out on a large piece of fabric next to the fire.
"She doesn't look good Karrick, she needs some water really badly" Fayte said urgently.
"I know, take her ahead, there's a small river that runs through Sarutabaruta, take her there" Karrick said as he cast a small water spell to put out the fire.
As Styrth watched Fayte pick her up and wrap her in the cloth he wondered what they talked about. Fayte began to job towards him, as he passed Styrth he slowly picked up pace. Tohma watched as Fayte ran with Alex over his shoulders far faster than everyone else.
"Fayte? What are you doing!" Tornex called out.
"He is taking her to the river, she is in need of water" Karrick said as he reached them.
"We'll meet him there then?" Tohma asked, worried.
"Yes. Fayte knows what he's doing" Karrick responded as he walked past her.
As the group walked along Styrth couldn't help but wonder how bad Alex's condition must have been. She only fainted, Tohma had fainted before, Styrth himself even got knocked out. Why would Fayte rush so urgently to get her to water.
As Fayte ran out of the threshold of the canyon and into Sarutabaruta he felt the air grow warmer. He knew this place well, not to the extent Karrick seemed to know it however. A river huh, Fayte thought to himself as he looked over the edge of a small cliff to see a decent sized flow of water below. In a jump he landed on his feet, Alex drooped over his shoulder.
"Here we are" Fayte said to himself as he knelt down to the river to get some water.
As Fayte knelt down he held Alex and dipped her hair in the water Her forehead was hot, she must have an extremely bad fever he thought to himself. After soaking her forehead, feet, and stomach in the cool water she began to wake up. Fayte had already gotten a cup out of his pack and gave it to her.
"What happened?" Alex said as she gulped down a full cup of water.
"You got teleport sickness" Fayte said as he stroked his head as if in deep thought.
"What?" Alex asked.
"Sometimes, when you aren't used to getting teleported, you get really sick. You could have died…" Fayte said, looking at the mithra.
"Died?" she responded, "where is everyone else! Are they ok?"
"Yes their all fine" Fayte assured her with a pat on the head.
"So where are they?" she asked.
"Back in the canyon, they should be here soon, we could check up on them if you want…" Fayte said as he pulled out his pearl.
"No its fine!" Alex said as she swatted the pearl back into the bag.
"Well…we have a good 30 minutes before they get here," Fayte said as he looked at her.
"Your right…" Alex said, "We do."
As Fayte laid back and looked into the clear sky the wind blew softly. Sarutabaruta was one of the most soothing places in all of Vana'diel. The stream of water was flowing, everything here was so nice. Fayte closed his eyes, he saw himself and his friends when they were little. He then saw that it would never be the same, things couldn't just go back to the way they were.
"Whatcha doing?" Alex said as she sat on top of him.
"Nothing…" Fayte said as he opened his eyes to find a curious Mithra poking at his arm.
"Where did you get this!" Alex said as she pointed at the scar she saw earlier.
"No where" Fayte said as he pulled his sleeve over it. And tried to sit up.
"Cmon! Tell me" Alex said as she pushed with both hands on his chest to force him down.
"I got it in the Dunes" Fayte said as he lay under her.
"What happened?" Alex said as she took a better look at it.
"A goblin happened."
"Really!" Alex asked as she looked at it further.
"Yes. I took a slice, Karrick got cut up bad on that one too" Fayte replied.
As he continued to explain how he had gotten his scar the sun was high in the air. It was hot, and it had only been 20 minutes. As Fayte picked Alex up off him under the arms and placed her next to him he got up and walked to the steam. There were fish swimming, it was quite nice, a swim would be nice about now too, Fayte thought to himself.
"Alright, I'm going in for a swim" Fayte said as he removed his belt and gear.
"Oh…?" Alex asked as Fayte removed his gi and placed it with his other things.
Fayte jumped in to feel the cool water. It was nice, the day was growing hot and would likely stay hot. As he dove down to see the bottom, fish were swimming about and the rays of light bounced off a small stone on the bottom. As Fayte surfaced holding it he noticed Alex was gone.
"Alex?"
"Gotcha!" Alex yelled as she jumped onto Fayte from the other side of the stream.
Both of them were under water now, and Alex was soaked, having not taken off her gear. Fayte almost lost the stone but managed to keep it. As they surfaced Alex was laughing as she crawled out of the water, Fayte got out and was smiling at her.
"Well…" Fayte said as he tried to shake the water out of his hair.
"hahaha!" Alex laughed as she jumped across to Fayte's side.
Fayte laid back again and looked at the stone. It was a teleport stone, but he had never seen one like this. There were only 5 crags you could teleport too that Fayte knew of, and he had seen orbs for all of them, this looked like one but was blue.
"Whatcha got there?" Alex asked as Fayte slipped it into one of his bags.
"Nothing, now lets get dried off, they'll be here soon and we are gonna have to keep moving" Fayte said as he removed his soaking went tabar.
"Whoa…your covered in those scars!" Alex said as she looked at his chest then his back as he turned.
"I've run into a lot of goblins" Fayte responded with a laughed.
As Fayte got a new tabar and put his gi back on he looked at Alex, she looked cold. Fayte looked through his bag to see if he could find an old set of clothes she could wear. He found some, one of his older sets.
"Well, your fever is gone, so lets not have you catch a cold then" Fayte said as he pulled out the cloths.
"For me?" Alex said with a shiver.
"Yea, take off your wet cloths and put em on" Fayte said as he gathered all his gear and got ready to start moving.
As Alex removed her breastplate and Platoons she watched Fayte. With only her bra and shorts on she grabbed the cloths and went behind a rock formation to change. She liked these cloths, though her tail felt strange, there wasn't a hole for it.
"Ready!" Alex said as she came out from behind the rock holding her bra and shorts.
"Alright, I take it your not wearing anything under those then…" Fayte said looking at her tail poking out the bottom.
"Nope…" Alex blushed as she tossed the undergarments with her other gear.
"Lets see if we cant fix that Tail issue" Fayte said as he walked over to her.
Fayte went behind her and looked at her tail sticking out. He looked at the armor he gave her, it looked like it fit pretty nicely. As he looked at it he saw the bulge where her tail was and drew his katana. With a quick motion he sliced a small hole in the back for her tail.
"There you go" Fayte said putting his katana back.
"Thanks Fayte" Alex said as her tail found the hole and slid through.
"So, anyway, when did you hook up with the group?" Fayte asked.
"In Selbina I met up with them and they asked if I wanted to stick with them" Alex said.
"Ah, that's pretty early into their journey?" Fayte asked.
"Yea, only a couple days after you…" Alex said.
As they continued to talk Fayte heard Karricks voice above them. They were finally here, they could get going now. As he picked up his gear and got everything ready he saw Karrick peer over the edge to see himself and Alex.
"We're here!" Karrick said as he slide down the ledge.
"Yup…" Tohma said as herself, Styrth and Tornex came down.
"Why are you wearing a different piece of equipment Alex…" Styrth said looking at her.
"Fayte gave it to me, we got wet…" Alex said with a grin.
"We ready to continue?" Fayte asked.
"Yea, lets get going."
"How did you get wet…?" Tornex asked.
Alex just looked at him and winked. As the group continued to walk through the grasslands the sun began to sink below the horizon, it was going to be very dark soon. They were going to make it to town before nightfall, but it was pretty close.
"There it is" Karrick said as he pointed to the image of a lit gate leading into Windurst.
"Finally…now we can get some sleep and meet Soul!" Fayte said gleefully.
"Who is this Soul anyway?" Tornex asked.
"I met her the first time I came here." Karrick explained, "She and I are…lovers, I suppose" Karrick said.
"I wasn't there, so I don't know her" Fayte cut in.
"Where were you?" Tohma asked.
"Jeuno…" Fayte said.
"Oh, why were you there?" Alex asked.
"I was looking for-" Fayte said.
"Lets get going" Karrick cut in and began to run toward the town.
As everyone picked up pace and followed Karrick into the city, through the streets and the brightly lit fountain, and up to the mog house district. Everyone was getting tired, both Karrick and Fayte knew this, they both saw these few weren't used to this.
"Alright, you guys want to get a couple rooms?" Fayte turned to ask.
"Who us?" Styrth asked.
"Yes, I'll be going to see this girl of Karrick's, then im going to find a room and go to sleep, if would be best if you all got your room, or rooms ready." Fayte explained.
"Alright!" Tohma said as she walked to the nearby guard.
As Fayte and Karrick walked up into the district Tohma got some rooms, two spare, in case Karrick wasn't spending the night with this Soul person.
"Ok guys, I got us a room for the four of us" Tohma said.
"Awsome, im exhausted" Tornex said as he began to walk into the district.
"Lets get goin then" Styrth said as the group walked up the stairs into the district of mog houses.
"Room 45c" Tohma said.
"Here it is! I found it!" Alex said as she pointed at a house.
"Fayte is down 7 in 52c, and Karrick is next to his in 51c, but I doubt he will not spend the night at his girlfriends house" Tohma explained.
As the group walked into their room the mog greeted them happily. Tornex fell onto his bed tired, so did Tohma. Styrth and Alex sat on their own beds.
"Hey!" Karrick said as Soul opened the door to her moghouse.
"Karrick! Is that you!" Soul said as she jumped into his arms.
"Soul, there someone I want you to meet" Karrick said as he moved and revealed Fayte standing behind him.
"Hello there." Fayte said.
"You must be Fayte, I've heard a bit about you" Soul said as she allowed the two into her room.
"We just got back from that raid in Jeuno" Karrick explained.
"Ugh…the beastmen have gotten pretty rough lately" Fayte said.
"You helped too?" Soul looked at Fayte.
"Yea…"
Fayte looked at Soul, she was extremely good looking. Clearly a blackmage. She stood a little shorter than Karrick and wore a pink set of cloths. As they continued talking Fayte began to grow tired, he needed to sleep. Karrick was likely planning to spend the night here so Fayte decided he would take his leave.
"I best be off, its getting late and im sure you don't want me here for tonight" Fayte said looking at Karrick.
"Haha, ill see you in the morning I suppose Fayte" Karrick said, Soul was blushing.
"G'night"
As Fayte closed the door he went to the guard to ask what room Tohma and the rest of the group were staying in.
"They are staying in roomy woomy 45c" the guard said.
"Thanks" Fayte replied as he walked toward the "c" division.
Fayte knocked on the door and was surprised to see the only one awake was Alex, she answered the door. She saw him and was smiling happily.
"Hello Fayte!" Alex said with a purr.
"Hi, I see everyone is getting their…sleep" Fayte said looking around the room.
"Yea, your in the room 7 down from us, 52c!"
"Oh, she got one for me too?" Fayte asked.
"Yea"
"Thanks Alex, ill see you in the morning too" Fayte said as he looked at Alex.
As Fayte was about to turn to go to his room Alex stepped out into the hall and kissed him. Fayte was surprised, not expecting it, but picked it up. As they kissed the halls were silent aside from the flicker of the candles lighting them.
"What was that…" Fayte said in disbelief.
"I just wanted to see…" Alex said.
"Alright…" Fayte managed to say.
As Fayte walked away toward his room he heard the door close behind him. He walked to his room and opened it, two beds and a table, good-sized room he thought to himself. He walked in and put his gear in the corner. As he started to take off his armor he heard someone enter.
"Ello" Fayte said as he swung around not know who it was.
Alex was standing in the door.
"Mind if I sleep here…I cant sleep in a room filled with that noise…" she said.
"Uh…sure, pick a bed I guess" Fayte said as he continued to remove his cloths.
Alex walked to the bed on the left of the room and moved the quilt down. She then untied the belt and let the set top piece of gear Fayte let her have drop to the ground. She then pulled the pants down, she was fully nude standing in front of Fayte, her back to him. She then crawled into the bed.
"Goodnight Fayte" Alex said as she closed her eyes.
"Night…" Fayte said, still confused about the kiss and now this.
As Fayte finished getting ready to sleep he crawled into his bed. He blew out his candle and the room became silent and dark.
"Fayte…did you ever…think about me" Alex whispered.
"Sometimes…" Fayte said.
"I missed you…" Alex said.
"Lets get some sleep…" Fayte tried to sway away from the topic.
As Fayte was closing his eyes he heard Alex get out of her bed. He heard her walk over to the other side of his. He heard her get into the bed. He felt her touch his back, caress the scar across his shoulders.
"Ale-"
"Fayte…I love you"
Personally I think ill end this chapter right there. Its been a good few hours of thinking and typing. Feedback please. If you don't know what is going on I suggest you read the first few chapters, they will fill you in.